CatholicCare plans expansion to services

New federal funding will allow CatholicCare Wollongong to expand its aged and disabilities services in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

The social services agency will use the money to hire additional staff and offer more flexible services catered to individual needs.

Executive manager of CatholicCare's aged and disabilities services John Paul Troiani said the funding, awarded in the Commonwealth Home and Community Care's 2013 funding round, would be a great benefit to anyone in need of in-home help.

"Clients can choose services to assist them to maintain their health and independence and their capacity to manage around the home," Mr Troiani said.

It will also allow people to increase the number of hours of help they receive each week.

Betty Malone, 87, lives alone in Unanderra and sought help from CatholicCare as her health problems were getting worse.

"They took a lot of time to find out what I needed and how they could help me. I now don't have to worry about the housework or managing the house by myself," she said.

Julie Bale, 43, a care support worker for CatholicCare, sees Mrs Malone two days a week.

On Tuesdays she cleans Mrs Malone's house and on Thursdays they go shopping and have a coffee. Mrs Malone calls Thursday her "social day".

Mrs Malone said she was very happy with the care and help CatholicCare had provided.

"I'm very impressed with them, the flexibility works in with me and it has made a real difference to my life," she said.

Her family is equally thrilled by the difference CatholicCare and their workers have made.

Ms Bale has worked for CatholicCare for the past six months and is excited about the difference the new funding will make.